by Jennifer Dee
If you’ve ever been at a flea market looking at some old glass bottle and wondered if it was something super valuable or just something that would end up in the recycling, then you know exactly how it feels. That’s basically what bottle collecting used to be, with people mostly guessing, remembering little bits of advice from here and there, and sometimes checking out an old guidebook; and even though everyone was really into it, it didn’t really feel like anyone was connected. The majority of collectors just figured things out on their own through trial and error or by getting lucky and talking to someone who knew just a little more than they did.
The Internet Opened the Attic Door
Then the internet changed everything. Suddenly, collectors who once searched alone could gather in one place. A photo of an unusual embossing or pontil mark could be shared with people across the country—or across the world—within minutes. What used to take months of hunting through books or waiting for the next bottle show could now happen over a cup of coffee at your kitchen table. And if you’re anything like most collectors, you’ve probably had that moment when someone online identifies a bottle you’ve puzzled over for years. Read more
